How sticky tape and plasticine are making robotics fun

WIRED 2015: Next Generation is our annual event dedicated to inspiring young minds, where innovators aged 12 to 18 years old gather at London’s Tobacco Dock for talks, hands-on workshops and Q&As. For more from the event head to our WIRED NexGen Hub.

Give kids fifteen minutes, some servos, an Arudino, some sticky tape and a block of plasticine and watch the robots start to evolve. "They make the mistakes and learn from them," Simon Riley, founder and CEO of MakerClub tells WIRED. The Brighton-based company, established in 2014, works with children to show how an understanding of technology can open new opportunities.

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MakerClub: How to make a 3D-printed robot arm

James Temperton / WIRED

During an hour-long workshop at WIRED2015: Next Generation, a group of kids are taken through the process of connecting a servo up to an Arduino and using Scratch to control it. One team creates a walking lizard, only to realise it moves sideways. The solution? Turn it into a crab. Some of the tiny walking robots spin around on the spot, some use plasticine, some paper, sticky tape and paperclips. But in 15 minutes they're all walking about, albeit with various limps and physical ticks.

MakerClub: How to make a 3D-printed robot arm

James Temperton / WIRED

"This is an almost impossible task," Simon tells the group, pointing out that its meant to get them thinking about how code, robotics and craft can be used in combination. "I really like robots," said Ikenna, 12, from London. Ikenna's dad has already noticed that his son has a real interest computing and is keen for him to keep pursuing it. And for most of the children, it is creativity that gets them most excited.

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MakerClub: How to make a 3D-printed robot arm

James Temperton / WIRED

Sam, 13, from Manchester, was up at 5am to make his way for London in time for Next Generation. He's already learning how to use Visual Basic at school and said the chance to play with robotics was always exciting.

Harry Wynne Williams said his son Leo, 12, from London, was most excited about getting hands on with science, technology and design, something that isn't always on the curriculum at school. Leo's already got a Raspberry Pi at home and loves playing around with robots. "They're definitely enjoying it," Leo's father says, gesturing at a table of kids fiddling with code in Scratch. "Everyone's gone quiet."

WIRED Next Generation is dedicated to inspiring youths aged 13- to 19-year-olds to become the next wave of technologists, entrepreneurs and innovators.